A convicted felon taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of a newlywed couple inside a Wisconsin sports bar admitted to killing with intent to steal a small amount of money, leaving less than $150 in the cash drawer. Police said he left.
Elkhorn Police said Friday that Thomas Root Jr., 57, is the suspect in the Feb. 1 shooting deaths of Gina Weingart, 37, and her husband, Emerson Weingart, 33. It was announced that he has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
The parolee, who has a lengthy rap sheet, told investigators that he fired the shot with intent to rob Gina at the Sports Page bar where she worked, and that he took between $120 and $140 from a cash drawer before fleeing to his home in his car. He confessed that he stole it. the police said.
Witnesses reported that Raut was inside the bar playing a video game for about 30 minutes before pulling out a gun and ordering the couple and a third person to stay still.
“Witnesses said Raut brandished a handgun and pointed the gun at the bartender, Gina, ordering her not to move,” police said in a statement. “Witnesses said they instinctively stood up from their bar stools, and Mr. Root pointed the gun at them and ordered them to stay still.”
Police said Loudt then opened fire and a witness ran out of the bar and called 911.
He was arrested by the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office at 3:40 a.m. on February 4 at the Department of Corrections jail while he was on parole for arson.
“Roudt then admitted to shooting and killing both Emerson and Gina Weingart, and that he fired shots at the witness as he fled out the back door,” police said. did.
Rout is also charged with one count of attempted first-degree intentional armed robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Rudt said he threw the weapon and ammunition into a trash bin at a Handimart in Lake Como the next morning,” police said, adding that they later recovered a 9mm handgun and ammunition from the trash.
CBS 58 reports that Root appeared in court on Friday and Emerson’s father, Jeff Weingart, addressed the judge and called the suspect a monster.
“Our family is devastated by this senseless act of violence,” he said, according to the newspaper.
“The defendant killed two people and attempted to kill a third,” said Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld.
Raut’s next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
“We intend to plead not guilty,” his attorney Russell Jones told CBS 58. “I would not be surprised if there were surveillance cameras, but no video footage has been provided at this time.”
Ludt is a felon who was convicted of robbery and arson in 1995 and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
He was paroled by Gov. Tony Evers in 2020 and was on community supervision at the time of the shooting.
“I want you to remember that the system that convicted and imprisoned him failed,” Jeff Weingart told the court, according to the newspaper.
“Please find out why the Tony Evers administration paroled this monster who committed such a brazen act that took the lives of two very special, beautiful and loving people, Gina and Emerson,” the grieving father added. .
His son and daughter-in-law, who grew up in Wisconsin, started dating in 2020 and quickly became “inseparable.” According to their obituaries.
